John Thomas Murray

Thursday

Dec 20, 2012 at 3:16 PMDec 20, 2012 at 3:25 PM

1920-2012

John Thomas Murray, founter of KZIQ AM and FM, died peacefully on Dec. 14, 2012 in Ridgecrest.His wife Dianne and sister-in-law Sr. Cecile Therese Beresford, CSJ were at his side. Rev. Walter Anderson, Sr., Therese Denham, CSJ, and Fr. James Dowds were also present.John was born at home in Troy, NY, on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1920, during a raging snowstorm.He attended St. Patrick Elementary School, Troy Catholic High and Troy High School.He enlisted in the U.S. Army in Nov. 1942 and was honorably discharged in March 1946.After spending a few days at home, he left for California to attend the Northrop School of Aviation. During his tenure there, he worked on the original flying wing for a time.John, always interested in airplanes (especially antiques) took flying lessons at the Troy airport as a teenager, and had a few tall tales to tell from those days.John and Dianne were married at St. Ann Church in Ridgecrest by his brother Gavin Murray on July 1, 1967.He and his wife Dianne had their pilot licenses and for a while, their own airplane — a Piper Archer 2, which seated four people.Their Scottie Angus grew to be a good flyer and would sleep on the back seat.Prior to that, they owned a 36-foot brown Timaran, which was based in San Diego.The drove back and forth to San Diego to sail on weekends.John was sent up to China Lake to work on a 30-day task and was asked to stay when his time was up. Thus began his civil service career.He retired in 1966 and worked for KLOA. His evening program was titled "Murray Mikeside." He played good, easy listening music and jazz.While working at China Lake, he was asked by KLOA to narrate and report on President John Kennedy's visit.He was on top of Hanger Three doing the broadcast.John began building KZIQ-AM in 1970 and added KZIQ-FM in 1974. A major heart attack in 1977 slowed him down for a while, and upon his cardiologist's advice, he sold the stations in 1986, eliminating a source of stress.John was dedicated to keeping himself healthy and began a daily walking and running program. He started by taking some short-distance walks, then running three miles a day around the China Lake Golf Course. He also enjoyed playing golf and did so for many years, enjoying the company of his friends and, occasionally, his wife Dianne and Angus, their Scottie.John was a loyal Rotarian and served as president in 1983-1984.John and Dianne enjoyed traveling when they could and have been to Jamaica, Italy, Japan and Korea (a media tour he was invited to join) and Hawaii.At a fundraiser dinner at the Enlisted Men's Club in 1991, he bid $25 fo the privilege of conducting the new Big Band X-Press. He insisted on doing a "Take the A Train." His efforts were received with lots of enthusiasm.John and Dianne bought a home about 1988 and refurbished the interior, doing most of the work themselves. John was very proud of his new home and worked hard to get the yard in shape. These days, people tell us it looks like a park.They began attending the Los Angeles Jazz Festival at the Marriott hotel about 1990 and did so for at least 10 years.The also purchased a used Airstream and enjoyed many years of camping in the Sierra range, especially in the June Lake Loop area. John was also an avid fisherman and loved to fish the lakes in the upper Yosemite Park.John's health began to fade a few years ago, so his activities were somewhat curtailed from that time on.John leaves behind his wife, Dianne, and brothers Francis Murray, Paul Murray, Donald Murray and James Murray and his sisters Bernadette Gettings, Rosemary Lattof and Joanne Caron, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.A visitation will be Friday, Dec. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. at Holland and Lyons Chapel.Funeral services will be held at the All Faith Chapel on base Saturday, Dec. 22 at 10 a.m.A reception will follow the burial service in the East Wing of the chapel.

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